Omar Lopez
- Teacher – Irene Garcia Middle School – La Joya ISD
- 8th grade Science
- Previously taught 7th and 8th grade ELA as well
- Avid Sketchnoter
- Graphic Recorder
- Twitter: @OmarLopez0207
ACEd Topic
Visual Thinking = Thinking Visually
- Hope to spark or reaffirm interest in thinking visually.
- Goal of educators: find the best way to help students learn
Intro
- Asking others to visualize is natural – almost automatic!
- Putting ideas into a visual – Thinking Visually or Visual Thinking
- Popularity of Sketchnoting or Visual thinking products?
II. What is Visual Thinking?
- Visual thinking is a way of conveying something complex – a concept or a process – in a way that is easy to see and understand – others or self.
- It’s a way of seeing words as a series of images, pictures or symbols.
- Doesn’t have to be an illustration.
- Example: Annotated article – highlighted, symbols, underlined words, notes to the side
- Don’t have to be an artist to be a visual thinker!
- Quote: “Visual thinking does not mean replacing the word “car” with a drawing of a car. And being a good visual thinker has absolutely nothing to do with your ability to draw. ”
III. Benefits of Thinking Visually
- Target different learning styles
- Auditory learners listen and draw key ideas
- Helps with spatial awareness
- Kinesthetic – gallery walk
- Hands on or tactile – Ex: using Legos
- Especially helpful for English Language Learners (ELLs)
- Studies support it drawing as a cognitive learning practice
- It’s easy to do – drawn map vs written directions!
- Students take ownership
- Visual information is processed more quickly than text.
- Improve retention of information and deeper understanding
- There is no wrong way of doing it
IV. Tools
- Analog – Common inexpensive way – more accessible
- Colored pens markers and paper
- Favorite Personal tool: iPad Pro with Apple Pencil
- Devices in school
- As an educator and for student use:
- Google Slides and Spark Post – same username
- Icon add-on on Slides
- Easy to insert what they see in their heads
- Less time consuming
- Collaboration
- Initially – strict and specific parameters
- Tailored and prescriptive objectives
- As Students progress more freedom is given
- Focused visuals help with STAAR writing –
- Deeper development of ideas
- Supporting DETAILS
- Flow and coherence
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